Leon a



(No Model.)

L. A. GOBINQ MAGHINE FOR GRADING AND CLEANING COFFEE.

Patehted Nov. 6, 1883.

. WITNESSES:

W A I INVENTOR':

ATTIOBNEYS.

. UNITED STATES LEON A. GOBIN, or NE YORK, N. Y.

P TENT OFFIC MACHINE FOR GRADING AND CLEANING COFFEE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 287,823, dated November6,1883.

v Application filed February 3, 1883. (X model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.- Be it known that I, LEON ANDRE GOBIN, ofthe city, county, and State of New York,

' have invented a new and useful Improvement improvement.

in Machines for Grading and Cleaning Coffee, Grain, and Seeds, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Reference is to behad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters-of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

, seeds; and to this end it consists in the peculiar construction andarrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, and pointed outthe claim.

I will describe my improvement as applied to the grading and cleaning ofcoffee, but do not limit myself tothat use, as; it can be applied withequal advantage to the grading and cleaning of grain and seeds.

A represents an inclined air-flue, the lower end of which is madeshallow and its upper end deep. \Vith the lower end of the air-flue A isconnected a powerful fan-blower, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

' To the lower part of the inclined upper side of the air-flue A isattached a hopper, B, from which the coffee falls into the air-fiue Athrough an opening,-O.

The size of the opening 0, and consequently the thickness of the sheetof falling coffee, is regulated by a sliding gate, D, as shown in Fi 1.

The lower side of the air-flue A is formed of a series of steps oroffsets, E, the upper sides of which are parallel with the inclinedupper side of the said flue, and each upper step is at a little greaterdistance from the inclined top of the said flue than the next precedingstep, so that the flue will gradually increase in depth.

The lower sides of the steps E are about at right angles with theinclined upper side of the flue A, and in the angles of the said stepsare formed openings, with'which are connectedthe upper ends of a seriesof pipes, F FF F each of which should be about four inches in diameterand of any convenient length.

' The lower pipe, F, should be nearly beneath the discharge-opening G ofthe hopper B, and all the said pipes should be about equidistant fromeach other. I

. The deep upper end of the air-flue A opens into a chamber, G, whichmay be built as a part of the machine, or may be a room in a building,as may be most convenient. In the former case the top of the chamber Gis open, and is provided with a cap, H, to cover and protect the saidchamber when the machine is not in use. In the latter case the roomshould be provided with a large window to allow the air to escapefreely,and thus prevent backpressure from the air.

The chamber G is provided with one or more openings in its lower part,through which its contents can be removed, and which are closed by gatesor doors I.

In using the machine, as the blast of air strikes the sheet of fallingcoffee, the stones, pebbles, nails, and other heavy impurities fall intothe pipe F and pass out of the machine. The large berries will'becarried up the flue A for a short distance, and will fall into thesecond pipe, F. The smaller berries will be carried up the flue A alittle farther, and will fall into the third pipe, F The broken berrieswill fall into the fourth pipe, F and the husks,

. shells, and other impurities will be carried into the chamber G. Thedust and very light impurities will pass out of the chamber G with theair. V Y I It will be observed that the gradual increase in depth of theair-flue A allows the air-blast to gradually decrease in force, so thatthe berries will fall through it into their proper discharge-pipes, andthe grading and cleaning will be thoroughly done. The force of theairblast must be regulated as the weight of the coffee, grain, or seedsbeing operated upon may requlre.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- The combination, with the open-top chamber G,provided with the gate I, of the inclined flue A, opening into thechamber G, and provided with the steps E, having their upper facesparallel with the top of the flue and their lower sides at right anglesthereto, each being at a little greater distance from the inclined topthan the next preceding one, and having discharge-openings between themand

